Electroperforating apparatus



Jan. 16, 1951 J. w. MEAKER ET AL 2,538,579

ELECTROPERFORATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 18, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS :1; E. Cbolef/vc'z h, MC'SHA/V By JOHN W MEAKER A 770Q/VEY5 1951 J. w. MEAKER El AL 2,538,579

ELECTROPERFORATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 18, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TORS Cum ENCE H M0 SHA/v A TTO/ZNEYS Jan. 16, 1951 J. w. MEAKER ET AL 2,538,579

ELECTROPERFORATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 18, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 J- I 7. 4 v

IN V EN TORS Cz ILQENC'E Ma S/m/v BY JOHN W M54 KER g WGQA A TTOQNEJ S Patented Jan. 16, 1951 U NITED S PATENT 2,538,579 I ELECTRUPERFORATING.Aiifiziitififti aolin W. lVI'eakLNeW Yorh' -NQL and eiaronoe H. Mo'shan nowark, N. ..J.; said Mosh-au as- "signer to said Me'aker Ap lication January is, 1947, serialNarzaste This invention relatesto an electrical disoharge apparatus 1 and more particularly to an apparatus for perforating articles of various sizes and shapes by an electric discharge.

An obj'ect of this invention'is t'o'p rovide an apparatus 'for the eletri'cal perforation o'f'hats or similar articles that-will accommodate various sizes or articles of thesafne general shape with an electrode assembly that *will conform to the variations in the shape of an individual article. An apparatus incorporating such features eliminates the need for an individualele'ctrode corresponding exactly in size and shape to the pan ticular articles being treated. This gives the apparatus a greater range of application and atthe same time reduce's'the cost'of s'uoh equip ment for the individual user.

Another object is to provide an electrical perforating apparatus by'means of which un form perforations are produced over the area of the article being treated. Other objects and advantages of the-invention will be apparent "from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side-elevation view of an apparatus embodying the invention with the hat being treated thereonbeing shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a section view taken along the line 2-4 of Fig. 1 having the hat om tted for clarity;

Fig. 3 is a section view taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 5 is a section View taken along the 1=ne 5-5 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a side view of a modified form of electrode; and

Fig. 7 illustrates diagrammatically the wiring connections for the apparatus embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawings .in detail, there is a turntable I rotatably mounted on a stationary shaft ll supported one. plate [2. The turntable l0 may be driven in any suitable manner. As showninFig. 2,- a shaft -l 3-of;a motor l4 engages with a rubber tired wheel I rotatably mounted on the plate ii. The .rubber tired wheel engages with the inside of the rim of the turntable 10 so that when the wheel is driven by operation of the motor i4, it drives the turntable.

Theturntable lfihas a series of resilient membersin the form of spring fingers l6 spaced about its outer edges. When'the apparatus is designed for-use particularly with a hat,--the spring fingers it may be arranged in an 'el'iptie'alo'r ovai pattern on the turntable so 'that'they will conform generally to 'the's'hape -of a hat 11. Thus, when'th'e hat is placed over the spring fingers, the spring fi'n er's resiliently ress against the'crown of the hat-and-secure the hat-to the turntable. The spring fingers it because of their resiliency will accommodate 'a'variety f hat sizes rangin irorn the' i'a'rgest to the smallest-sizes ordinarily "pro duced. a I I I The end of the shaft -il extends above the turntable and carries a bush'ing 'l8 on its end. An electrode support l9. and an "eectr'ic lamp socket '20 containing-a 'lainp 2011 are supported in fixedpo'sition on the bushing ifi. The support Wis in the form of a 'reotan'gularframe having oppositely disposed o enings at 'theuppe'r ends of its-verticalsides inwhich bearings 2i are secured. slidabl' mounted in the bearings "21,

there is a rod or shaft 22 oxtendingtransverse y across the support l9 and carrying a vertically extendingffiexible electrode 23 at its outer-en A'guidefZB extends'downwardlyfrom the shaft 22 intf) a slotted opening 25 in one of the horizontal membTS'Cf the support 19. This guide prevents the shaft 22 from turning and thus holds the e1eotr'ode'23 in'vertieal'position. The guide also li nitsthe movement-of the'shaft'iz intheirarhe 19. A pring "23 surrounding the shaft 22 h gageswith the frame l9 and the guide 24 and resiliently ur es the shaft 22 and the 'eliz'tiod'e '23 outwardly. V I

The flexible electrode 23 may'beslighhy curves to conform generally to the contour or the hat. However, flexibility "(if the 'e1e'3tro d'23 permits it to conform readily to the outline or oonto r 0f the crown of the hat when it is pressed against the inside oi'the hat. The springer; also holds the electrode in engagement with the interior surface of the hat as it rotates regardless of changes in conformation. For example, as a hat is rotated, the shaft 22 moves inwardiy or outwardly, asthe ease maybe, under the influence of the spring 'zefollowing the oval shape of the hat. The flexible e1eotrode 23 may be Surrounded by an ausdhary diseharge receiving member in therorrn or a coiled spring 21. The

'coiled' spring 21 conforms to the hape or the electrode inself and may be replaced when worn. This electrode assembly is electrically grounded so that it is in eife'ct electrieal'y connected to the grounded side o'fthe secondary or high voltage sideota transformer T. The plate i2 on which the turntable is rotatably mounted is in turn supported on apa'nel 28.,

' driven by a motor 32.

a which is mounted on and driventhrough a suit-.

able slip connection by a shaft 3|a that is inturn The motor" 32- and the shaft cm are supported by a vertical panel 33 mounted on the bottom panel 28. The vertical panel 33 also carries contacts 34 connected to a series of resistances 35. The resistances 35 are in turn connected in series to the secondary of, the transformer T. A contact wiper 36 carried by the arm 3| is electrically connected to the moving electrode 33 through the arm 29 and travels across the contacts 34 as the arm 3| is rotated.

The contacts 34 are connected to the resistances 35 so that when the driven arm is in approximately a vertical position (with the elec trode 33 positioned approximately over the center of the hat crown) the resistance in the discharge circuit will be ata maximum and when the arm reaches its outward limit of movement (a position where the speed at which the hat rotates between the electrodes does not vary materially as the arm continues to move), the resistance in the circuit is at a minimum. It has been found that by regulating the current intensity of the electric discharge between the electrodes in this manner, it is possible to secure substantially uniformly sized perforations in the article being treated despite variations in the speed at which the hat passes between the electrodes.

In a given material the size of perforations caused by an electric discharge will depend on factors such as the speed at which the material passes between the electrodes; the frequency of the alternating current; the current intensity of the spark discharge; the number of spark dis charges passing through a given perforation and other factors. While in an apparatus of the type described here, most of these factors are more or less fixed, the speed at which the material passes between the electrodes may vary. For example, the speed at which a hat being rotated moves between the electrodes varies from a minimum at the center of the hat to a maximum at the outer edge. In order to compensate for this difference in speed, the current intensity of the spark discharge between the electrodes may be regulated in the manner just described so as to produce uniform perforations over the surface of the hat.

As the motor 32 drives the arm 3| towards the end of its travel, the arm operates a limit switch 46, which controls the circuit to the transformer, to open the limit switch thereby preventing further discharge between the electrodes. As previously stated, the shaft 3|a drives the arm 3| through a suitable slip drive, such as a slip drive bushing, and this permits the machine to run after perforation has been completed .without damage to the outside electrode or the motor 32. The motor 32 driving the shaft 3|a may be connected thereto by a magnetic clutch that is separately' controlled so that only when the entire machine is shut off, the arm 3| may be manually moved to its starting position for the next cycle of operation.

For convenience, portability and safety the entire apparatus may be placed inside of a case having a cover 31 hinged on a base 38. The cover 31 may have a window 39 through which the apparatus may be viewed as its operations are carried on. vided which is operated by the cover so that when the cover is raised, the entire apparatus is disconnected and inoperative. When the cover out danger.

31. has been raised disconnecting the apparatus, the operator may remove an article that has been treated and place an article to be treated on the turntable and at the same time the operator may raise the arm 3| by hand to its top position with- The panel 28 forms the top of the base 38 and the wiring, transformer and other parts may. be enclosed in the base. A double electrical conductor 4| with a conventional electric plug leading from the base may be provided for convenient connection to an electrical power outlet.

An operating switch 43, a lamp switch 44 and a control knob 45a for a variable resistance 45 are mounted on the base and are accessible from the exterior thereof. When the cover 31 is down so that the control switch 40 is closed, the operating switch 43 may be closed to connect the turntable motor I4, the electrode arm moving motor 32 and the primary of the transformer T to a suitable source of alternating current through the wires 4| and the plug 42. The variable resistance 45 is connected between the secondary of the transformer T and the series of resistances 35 and may be adjusted to control the intensity of the spark discharge as required for the perforation of a given material.

The switch 44 controls a circuit from the lamp 23a located inside of the hat to the wires 4| through wires 47. This lamp may be lighted as the apparatus operates to permit visible inspection of the perforations being made. The limit switch 46 which isin the circuit with the primary of the transformer T and controlled by the movement of the arm 3| is preferably arranged in an apparatus, such as shown here, to close the circuit to the primary of the transformer after the first five degrees of travel of the arm and to open it during the last five degrees of travel of the arm. This permits the turntable to reach its normal speed before a discharge between the electrodes occurs and prevents continued operation after the arm has reached its limit of travel.

A modified form of member surrounding the flexible electrode 23 is shown in Fig. 6. This electrode consists of a series of hardened steel rollers 48 rotatably mounted on the arm., This may be used where it is found desirable in some cases to reduce the friction between the article being perforated and the fixed electrode as the hat or other article rotates.

In the foregoing description and drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown as being incorporated in an apparatus particularly adapted for the electro-perforation of hats. It will be understood that the invention may similarly be incorporated in an apparatus for electro-perforating any desired article in a range of sizes or shapes. It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made in the apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by thefollowing claims.

A control switch 40 may be probe s nean.s carr ed.byc idrotatabl.

accents Was: aim: opera e tor e fo ating arti les of size and r i a b by el ctri,

of az ota ab e .mcm-

discb rea t e ma cmb er ior securing an article to: be perforatedito said-rotatable member, said meansrbeing capable of securing various sizes of .saidarticlesto said rotatable member, a fixed electrode support extending through said rotatable member, a flexible electrode slidablymounted on said support, a resilient member urging said elect-rode into engage,- ment with the inner surface of theartic'le carried by said rotatable mem'bena second electrodecontacting the opposite surfaceof said article :at a point in opposed rel-ationtc the first mentioned electrode, and driving mechanism for moving said second-electrode across the surface of the article in opposed relation to the first electrode.

In an apparatus for perforating articles of various sizes and irregular shape byan electric discharge, the combination of a rotatable "member, means carried by said rotatable member for securing an article-t0 be treated to said rotatable member, said means being capable of securing various sizes of said articles to said rotatable member, a fixed electrode support extending through said rotatable member, a flexible elece trode slidably mounted on said support, a resilient member urging saidelectrode into engagement with the inner surface of the article carried by said rotatable member, a second electrode contacting the surface of said article at a point in opposed relation to-the first mentioned electrode, driving mechanism for moving said second electrode across the surface of the article in opposed relation to the first electrode, and a motor for rotating the rotatable'mernber and passing the article carriedthereon between said electrodes.

3. In an apparatus for-perforating articles of various sizes and irregular shape by an electric discharge, the combination of a rotatable member, means carried by said rotatable member for securing an article to be treated to saidrotatable member, said means being capable of securing various sizes of said articles to said rotatable member, a fixed electrode support extending through said rotatable member, a flexible elec-- trode slidably mounted on said support, a resillent member urging said electrode into engagement with the inner surface of the article carried by said rotatable member, a seconde'lectrode contacting the surface of said article at a'point in opposed relationto the first mentioned electrode, driving mechanism for moving said second electrode across the surface of the article in opposed relation to the first electrode,-a motor for rotating the rotatable member and passing the article carried thereon between said electrodes, and means for passing an electric discharge between ai ctrode and throu h sa d'artic .4. In an apparatus for perforating articles of various sizes and irregular shape by an electric discha t e comb na ion ofarotata l membcr, ocea ca ried y sa d a a em mb r for securing an article to be treated to said rotatable m m er said me s ins capable o s cu n variou sizes 1? sa d .rt lcs to said tatabl memb r a fixed. ele trode support extend n through said rotatable member, a flexible electrode slidably mounted on said support, a resiln mem rging aid ele t d to en eme w h nner su fa of h article carri d y a ro atable member a second electrode c ntactics the suria c f sa dzarticle at a point in oncs czrelat onztcztbeifirst ment oned-electrode, driving mechanism for moving said secondselectrodcacrossthe. su face of the art cle in ppo relation the-firs c1ectrode,.- a motor lrivin h ro a. able member and passin he article carried thereon be weenaid: ele od s, means t r pa incan electric d scha e b ween s i el ctro es and throu h said artic1 an mean-star controlling-the current d ity or said di charg deoend naonr h rad al posit on of th s n icn cl lcctrocie rii hre pcct to saidrotatable her to secure uniformly sized perforations ..d a, icle,

.I anapoaratus. of e class des ribed havn a rotatable member for passing an article to be perforatedbetween a pair of electrodes-the combination of. a series of resilientmembers carried by Said rotatable member, said resilient members .being capable of engaging with individual articles of various sizes to secure said articles to the rotatable member, afiexible electrode supported above said rotatable member in fixed angular relation thereto,said electrode beingmovable radially and resiliently held in engagement with-the inner surface of-said article and a second electrode contacting the outer surfaceof said article at a point opposite the first electrode, and means for-moving said second electrode across the surface of said article in opposed relation-to thefirst electrode.

6. In an apparatus of the class described having a rotatable member for passing an article to be perforated between a pair of electrodes, the combination-of a series of resilient members carried by said rotatable member, capable of engaging with articles of various sizes to secure an individual article to said rotatable member, a flexible electrode supported above said rotatable member in fixed angular relation thereto, said electrode being movable radially and resiliently held in engagement with the inner surface of said article, a second electrode, said electrode being carried on an elongated flexible arm resiliontly urging said electrode in contact with the opposite surface of said article at a point in ppo d rela ion'tcthc fir le trode, a support on which said arm is pivotally mounted, and a driving mechanism for moving said arm and thereby passing the electrode carried thereon across the surface of the article being perforated in opposed relation to the first electrode.

7. In an apparatus of the class described having a rotatable member for passing an article tobe perforated between a pair of electrodes, the combination of a series of resilient members carried by saidflrota lable member capable of engaging with articles of various sizes to secure an individual article to said rotatable member, a flexible electrodesupported above said rotatable member in fixed angular relation thereto, said electrode being movable radially and resiliently held inengagement with inner surface of said article, a second electrode, said electrode being carried on an elongated flexible arm resiliently urging said electrode in contact with the opposite surface of said article at a point in opposed relation to the first electrode, a support on which said arm is pivotally mounted, a motor driving said arm thereby moving the electrode carriedthereon across the surface of the article being perforated. in opposed relation to the first electrodc, a source of high voltage current connected to said electrodesand means for regulating the current applied to said electrodes in accordance with the speed at which the article passes there- I between. 1

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a rotatable member for passing an article to be perforated between a pair of electrodes, a series of resilient members carried by said rotatable member, said resilient members being capable of engaging with articles of various sizes to secure an individual article to the rotatable member, a flexible electrode resiliently held in engagement with the inner surface of said article, a second electrode, said electrode being carried on an elongated flexible arm resiliently urging said electrode in contact with the outer surface of said article at a point in opposed relation to the first electrode, a support on which said arm is pivotally mounted, a driving mechanism for moving said arm and thereby passing the electrode carried thereon across the surface of the article being perforated in opposed relation to the first electrode, a source of high voltage current connected to said electrodes, and means for regulating the current applied to said electrodes in accordance with the speed at which the article passes therebetween, said means comprising a variable resistance connected in the circuit to the second electrode, the value of said resistance being controlled by the movement of said second electrode.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a rotatable member, resilient members carried by said rotatable member, said resilientmembers being capable of engaging with and securing articles of different sizes to said rotatable member, a fixed electrode support extending through said rotatable member, a flexible electrode slidably carried by said support, the flexibility of said electrode permitting said electrode to conform to the inner contour of the article carried by said rotatable member, a resilient member maintaining said electrode in engagement with said article during its rotation regardless of variations in the shape of said article, and a movable electrode contacting an opposite surface of said article at a point in opposed relation to the first electrode, and a drive for moving said second electrode across the surface of said article in opposed relation to the first electrode as the article is rotated between the electrodes.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a rotatable member, resilient members carried by said rotatable member, said resilient members being capable of engaging with and securing articles of different sizes to said rotatable member, a fixed electrode support extending through said rotatable member, a flexible electrode slidably carried by said support, the flexibility of said electrode permitting said electrode to conform to the inner contour of the article carried by said rotatable member, a resilient member maintaining said electrode in engagement with said article during its rotation regardless of variations in the shape of said article, a movable electrode contacting an opposite surface of said article at a point in opposed relation to the first electrode, a drive for moving said second electrode across the surface of said article in opposed relation to the first electrode, a source of high voltage current conneoted to said electrodes and a variable resistance for regulating the current supplied to said electrodes, said resistance being controlied by the movement of the movable electrode.

11. In an apparatus of the class described where an article to be perforated is rotated so as to pass between a pair of electrodes, one of said electrodes being moved across the surface of said article in opposed relation to the other electrode, means for regulating the current intensity of an electrical discharge passing between the electrodes and through the article to secure uniformly sized perforations in said article, said means comprising a series of resistances connected in series to one side of a source of electrical energy and a conductor carried by and connected to the movable electrode contacting with said resistances as said electrode is moved, said conductor contacting the resistance at a maximum value when the speed at which the article moves between theelectrodes is lowest and at a minimum value when the speed at which the article moves between the electrodes is greatest.

12. In an apparatus for electrically perforating a hat, the combination which includes a rotatable turntable for supporting a hat, an electric motor having a driving connection to said turntable, a flexible electrode located inside of the hat, means for moving and supporting said electrode into conforming engagement with the inner surface of the hat, a second electrode engaging with the outer surface of the hat, said electrode being movable across the surface of the hat, driving means connected to said second electrode for moving it across the outer surface of the hat in opposing relation to the first-mentioned electrode, means for supplying a high voltage electric current to the electrodes, said current being capable of passing an electric arc discharge between the electrodes and through the hat and a circuit connecting the last-mentioned means and the electric motor for driving the turntable to a source of electrical energy, said circuit including switching means operable by the movement of the second electrode for opening said circuit upon completion of the movement of the second electrode across the surface of the hat in one direction.

13. In an apparatus for electrically perforating a hat, the combination which includes a rotatable turntable for supporting a hat thereon, electrically operable means for rotating the turntable and the hat, a flexible electrode located inside of the hat, means for moving and supporting said electrode into conforming engagement with the inner surface of the hat, a second electrode, a movable, flexible arm supporting said second electrode in contact with the outer surface of the hat, means for moving said arm and the second electrode supported thereon across the outer surface of thehat in opposing relation to the first-mentioned electrode, means for supplying a high voltage electric current to the electrodes, said current being capable of passing an electric arc discharge between the electrodes and through the hat and a circuit connecting the last-mentioned means and the turntable rotating means. to a source of electrical energy, said circuit including switching means operable by movement of the second electrode for opening said circuit upon completion of the movement of the second electrode across the outer surface of the hat in one direction.

14. In an apparatus for electrically perforating a hat, the combination which includes a rotatable turntable for supporting a hat thereon, electrically operable means for rotating the turntable and the hat, a flexible electrode located inside of the hat, means for moving and supporting said electrode into conforming engagement with the inner surface of the hat, a second electrode, a movable flexible arm supporting said second electrode in contact with the outer surface'of the hat, means for moving said arm and the electrode thereon across the outer surface of the hat in opposing relation to the firstmentioned electrode, means for supplying a high voltage electric current to said electrodes, said current being capable of passing an electric arc discharge between the electrodes and through the hat, a circuit connecting the last-mentioned means and the turntable rotating means to a source of electrical energy, said circuit including switching means operable by movement of the second electrode for opening said circuit upon completion of the movement of the second electrode across the outer surface of the hat in one direction, and means in said circuit for varying the intensity of the arc discharge passing between the electrodes and through the hat.

15. In an apparatus for electrically perforating a hat wherein a hat having a flexible electrode located inside thereof and engaging with its inner surface is supported on a rotatable turntable and an electric motor is connected to the turntable for-rotating the same, the combination which includes a movable, flexible arm, an electrode carried by and held in engagement with the outer surface of the hat by said arm, said electrode contacting with the hat at a point where said electrode is opposed to an electrode located inside of the hat, means for moving said arm and the electrode carried thereon across the outer surface of the hat and a circuit connecting said electrodes and the turntable motor to a source of electrical energy, said circuit including transformer means for supplying a high voltage current to the electrodes and switching means operable by said arm to open said circuit upon completion of the movement of the electrode supported on the arm across the outer surface of the hat in one direction.

16. In an apparatus for electrically perforating a hat wherein a hat having a flexible electrode located inside thereof and engaging with its inner surface is supported on a rotatable turntable and an electric motor is connected to the turntable for rotating the same, the combination which includes a flexible arm, an electrode carried by and held in engagement with the outer surface of the hat by said arm; said electrode engaging with the outer surface of the hat at a point where said electrode is opposed to an electrode located inside of the hat, means for moving said arm and the electrode carried thereon across the outer surface of the hat and a circuit connecting said electrodes and the turntable motor to a source of electrical energy, said circuit including transformer means for supplying a high voltage current to the electrodes, means for regulating the current supplied to the electrodes, and switching means operable by said arm to open said circuit upon completion of the movement of the electrode supported on the arm across the outer surface of the hat in one direction.

17. In an apparatus for perforating an article of wearing apparel having an irregularly shaped recess therein such as a hat by an electrical arc discharge, the combination of a rotatable member supporting the article to be perforated, a flexible electrode located within an irregularly shaped recess in said article, means for moving said electrode into contour conforming engagement with the inner surface of the recess in the article, a second electrode, a supporting means resiliently hoding said second electrode in engagement with the outer surface of the article in opposing relation to a portion of the firstmentioned electrode, means for moving said supporting means and the second electrode across the outer surface of the article in opposing relation to other portions of the first-mentioned electrode, means for supplying a high-voltage, pulsating current to said electrodes, said current being capable of creating an electrical arc discharge between said electrodes and through the article and means for regulating the intensity of the discharge between the electrodes.

JOHN W. MEAKER. CLARENCE H. McSI-IAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 619,874 Dietrich Feb. 21, 1899 1,017,009 McKinless Feb. 13, 1912 1,016,716 Smith Feb. 6, 1912 1,068,774 Hutchison July 29, 1913 1,250,140 Chapman Dec 18, 1917 2,011,645 Miller Aug. 20, 1935 2,141,869 Konig Dec. 2'7, 1938 2,215,411 Sebring Sept. 17, 1940 2,365,576 Meaker et a1 Dec. 19, 1944 2,385,246 Wilsey et al Sept. 18, 1945 

